Ballistic’s Best Hunting 2026 — Running Seven Waterfowl Shotguns

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Waterfowl hunting doesn’t care how impressive a shotgun looks in the gun rack. When ducks start banking over the decoys, you need a gun that mounts naturally, swings smoothly and performs when the moment arrives. No spec sheet can pull the trigger for you. For Ballistic’s Best Hunting Edition 2026, three shooters put seven of today’s leading waterfowl shotguns through a hands-on evaluation designed to test how they perform when targets don’t follow a script.

This year’s lineup included the Winchester SX4, Browning A5, Mossberg 940 Pro, Beretta AX800 Suprema, Benelli Super Black Eagle 3, Franchi Affinity 3 and Stoeger M3500. The field covered a range of operating systems, features and price points, giving the team a very nice cross-section of modern duck guns.

Evaluators considered handling, fit, target acquisition, recoil, shooting performance and overall usability. With three shooters bringing different experience levels and preferences to the line, the test also highlighted an important truth: shotgun fit is personal, and the gun that works best for one hunter might not be the ideal choice for another.

The results? Seven capable shotguns, remarkably tight competition and very little room for a manufacturer to phone it in. Even small differences in handling and fit became meaningful when the team compared notes. No single feature guaranteed success, and a premium price tag didn’t automatically translate into a better experience.

The 2026 Ballistic’s Best Waterfowl Shotgun evaluation delivers a practical look at what these guns offer hunters beyond the marketing claims. Because when the birds are working, the wind is blowing and somebody yells “Take ’em,” you don’t need a shotgun that looks good on paper. Read more

Firearms

FOXPRO Launches Feature-Packed Ultrasonic X48 Predator Call

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Introducing the X48, a top-tier predator call from FOXPRO designed for exceptional performance and versatility. The X48 delivers an industry leading dynamic range of 32-bit Ultrasonic sound for an unprecedented level of realism in sound playback. This powerful and compact unit includes an Xtreme High Definition (XHD+) speaker and delivers a frequency response range of over 40 kHz, combining a high-quality horn speaker and a new enhanced tweeter, powerful volume, and unrivaled sound clarity.

The X48 includes 250 preloaded sounds, including 10 sounds from the MFK library, and can store up to 2,500 sounds. Also included are 10 Pro Hunts (seasonal sequences selected by the FOXPRO staff) for hands free stands. The TX2000 remote control features new technology for more reliable performance and boasts a large, full-color LCD screen (now featuring a customizable color option), categories and subcategories making sound selections easier than ever, a built-in weight scale, and an improved external gauge for temperature and barometric pressure. Additional features include a moon phase indicator, battery level indicators for both the call and the remote, and a stand timer.

FoxFusion (playing 2 sounds at the same time) and FoxPitch (changing the pitch of any sound for never before heard sounds) now share a new intuitive screen that allows the two features to work together seamlessly. FoxFusion can now be used with up to 32-bit sounds, and FoxPitch now has an extended pitch range (Ultrasonic sounds can only go down in pitch). The device supports FoxPilot sequences for hands-free calling and controls sounds, volume, mute, decoy on/off/speed/light, FoxFusion, and FoxPitch for the most unique and hands free calling ever. FoxData is also included for recording hunting conditions and tracking of sounds used to call in predators.

The X48 also features FoxMotion, which simulates moving prey by fading sound to an external speaker (sold separately). The X48 handle folds out to serve as a stand for elevating the unit for optimal sound distribution or for hanging from a limb or post. The X48 is compatible with the X-Decoy (sold separately) for an all-in-one predator-calling solution. The X48 includes Bluetooth connectivity for streaming audio from your phone, an external speaker jack, and an auxiliary jack for connecting a second decoy or other FOXPRO-approved devices (sold separately). Also included with the X48 is a 5,200 mAh lithium-ion battery pack and a charger, allowing convenient recharging without battery removal. Backed by a 5-year warranty and FOXPRO’s exceptional customer support, the X48 is proudly made in the USA with domestic and global components.

Feature Highlights Read more

Hunting

Trijicon Expands ACOG Line with New MRAD Reticle Offerings

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Trijicon®, a global leader in the design and manufacture of innovative aiming solutions, announces new ACOG® line in dual-illuminated and LED 4×32 and 3.5×35 configurations with new MRAD reticle offerings.

Developed through Trijicon’s Voice of Customer (VOC) process, the new offerings incorporate direct feedback from users in the field who wanted greater flexibility across different firearm platforms, calibers and ammunition types.

There’s a reason the Trijicon ACOG® (Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight) is the official medium-distance engagement optic of the Marine Corps and U.S. Special Operations Forces—and why more than one million ACOGs have been produced. Every feature of its innovative design serves a single purpose: increased hit potential in all lighting conditions through brilliant reticle illumination, compact design and legendary durability.

The new MRAD reticles build on that proven platform by providing a flexible aiming solution that is not tied to a single cartridge or predetermined trajectory. Consistent MRAD subtensions allow users to establish precise elevation and wind holds for their specific firearm and ammunition combination.

This flexibility is especially valuable when transitioning between different ballistic profiles, including supersonic and subsonic ammunition. The same MRAD aiming methodology can be applied across intermediate-caliber carbines, suppressed platforms and other weapon systems.

The new MRAD reticles are available in:

4×32 ACOG: TA31-C-100832 and TA02-C-100833
3.5×35 ACOG: TA11-C-100806 and TA110-C-100807 Read more

Optics

ZeroTech Optics USA Delivers 116 MOA of Elevation in the Trace X 5-25×56 FFP – RMG-H MOA Illuminated

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An illuminated first focal plane MOA grid, quarter-MOA controls and a zero stop give MOA shooters a dedicated precision configuration.

ZeroTech Optics USA introduces the Trace X 5-25×56 FFP – RMG-H MOA Illuminated, a precision riflescope for shooters who prefer their aiming references and turret adjustments in MOA. Built on a 34mm maintube, the model combines 116 MOA of internal elevation travel, 58 MOA of windage and 0.25 MOA clicks with an illuminated first focal plane reticle and a mechanical zero stop.

The configuration keeps the sight picture and controls in the same unit of measure. Its illuminated MOA grid is graduated to 80 MOA, and first focal plane placement preserves the stated values as magnification moves from 5x to 25x. Shooters can work with MOA-based data and grid references throughout the zoom range rather than selecting one calibrated magnification to make those references valid.

The elevation system provides 116 MOA of total internal adjustment, paired with 58 MOA of windage travel. Quarter-MOA increments allow fine changes on the dial, while the zero stop establishes a physical reference for returning to the shooter’s set zero after dialing elevation. The design provides both a defined adjustment increment and a repeatable mechanical return point within the same control system.

A 56mm objective and fully multi-coated lenses serve the 5-25x optical system. At 100 yards, field of view runs from 24.8 feet at 5x to 5 feet at 25x. Parallax adjusts from 22 yards to infinity, and eye relief measures 3.82 inches. The magnification range offers a broader view at the low end and greater image scale at the top, with the MOA graduations remaining valid throughout. Read more

Optics

Trijicon Night Sights Now Available for the Springfield Armory Echelon

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Trijicon, Inc., an industry leader in innovative aiming solutions, announces its first Night Sight offerings for the Springfield Armory® Echelon™ pistol. The new lineup includes six configurations across Trijicon’s HD™, HD XR™ Suppressor and Suppressor/Optic Height Sight product lines, bringing proven Trijicon visibility and durability to the popular optics-ready platform.

Trijicon HD™ Night Sights are self-luminous, three-dot night sights featuring a highly visible photoluminescent paint outline and a 2X brighter domed sapphire/tritium front sight to quicken sight acquisition. The angled and serrated “U” notch rear sight reduces glare and aids in front-sight focus. Building on the HD design, HD XR™ Night Sights incorporate a thinner front sight post for a wider field of view, improved target visibility, and more precise aiming at extended distances.

Trijicon HD XR™ Suppressor Sights and Trijicon® Suppressor/Optic Height Sights provide the additional height needed for suppressor-equipped pistols while also serving as backup iron sights for pistol-mounted red dot optics. These versatile configurations give Springfield Armory Echelon owners a dependable secondary aiming option without compromising Trijicon’s commitment to durability and performance. Read more

Firearms, Optics

SAF Fact Sheet Refutes Anti-Gun Rhetoric and Predictions

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BELLEVUE, Wash. — The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) has compiled a new fact sheet refuting 85 documented claims from anti-gun groups, advocates and public officials who stated pro-Second Amendment court rulings and reforms would produce more shootings, more deaths and immediate surges in violence.

FBI data and other sources instead show three consecutive years of declining murder rates (-9.1% in 2023, -13.7% in 2024, and -18.1% in 2025), the largest one-year drop in violent crime on record in 2025, and a 2026 trajectory that would put the national murder rate at a modern low of roughly 3.2 per 100,000 based on data through July. The sheet also links all 85 predictions researched and the underlying crime data for transparency.

“After Bruen, after Cargill, after permitless carry, after every other expansion of the right to keep and bear arms, the same organizations and officials predicted more death,” said SAF Director of Legal Research and Education and fact sheet author Kostas Moros. “They were not even close, yet the mainstream media continues to quote these sources without checking the facts, which directly contradict the predictions from gun-control advocates. The fact sheet even puts the predictions and the FBI numbers side-by-side, so no one has to take our word for it, the facts are readily accessible in the document.”

Titled The Bloodbath That Never Came, the fact sheet covers predictions issued after New York State Rifle & Pistol Ass’n v. Bruen (2022), Garland v. Cargill (the bump-stock decision), the spread of permitless or “constitutional” carry, the elimination of the National Firearms Act tax on certain arms and recent Department of Justice and ATF actions. In each case, groups including Brady, Everytown, Giffords and March For Our Lives, along with elected officials, warned of bloodshed.

“Mainstream news coverage continues to quote anti-gun predictions of imminent violence without mentioning the unbroken record of prior claims that failed,” said SAF Executive Director Adam Kraut. “We hope this research provides a unique resource to anyone looking for the researched numbers instead of relying on the same anti-gun rhetoric we see and hear on the news after every pro-Second Amendment ruling or reform.”

You can view the fact sheet in its entirety here. Read more

Gun Control

Whitetails Unlimited Offers Free Sight-In Targets

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Archery deer season is here, and rifle, shotgun, and muzzleloader deer seasons will be here before we know it. Whatever firearm is used, it is very important for the hunter to be confident with their abilities to hit a target accurately. To help ensure that you and your firearm are shooting accurately, Whitetails Unlimited has developed a Sight-In Target Initiative.

The Sight-In Target Initiative was created by Whitetails Unlimited to help ensure hunters and shooting enthusiasts are confident in their ability to shoot their firearm safely and accurately. The initiative consists of a shooting range sight-in kit that includes three 100-yard targets that measure 14 x 16 inches with 1-inch grids and a 6-inch center highlight ring, and a 10 Commandments of Firearm Safety poster. When sighting-in a firearm, follow all safety rules and handle all firearms as if they are loaded. Make sure the target has an adequate backstop and remember to wear eye and ear protection.

To order complimentary sight-in kits, call Whitetails Unlimited National Headquarters at 920.743.6777 or send an email to nh@whitetailsunlimited.com. Read more

Firearms

Woman Injured in Moose Encounter Near McAllister

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A woman was injured by a moose earlier this month on private land near McAllister.

On Oct. 3, the woman was walking her dogs near her home when she encountered a cow moose. The moose reportedly charged and injured the woman, who was later taken to Madison Valley Medical Center for injuries that were significant but fortunately not life threatening.

Game wardens with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks received a report the same day and visited the scene of the incident. They searched the area but did not locate a moose.

Based on the woman’s account, the moose was likely acting defensively in the encounter. No further management action from FWP is planned. Read more

Wildlife

Springfield Armory Announces Launch of Echelon Pro 9mm Pistols

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Springfield Armory® is proud to announce the launch of the new Echelon® Pro Comp line of 9mm pistols. Available in 4.0C compact, 4.0FC hybrid and 4.5F full-size variants, these Echelon Pro pistols add a distinctive set of enhanced features to the modularity and adaptability that define the Echelon series.

The Echelon Pro Comp builds on the proven foundation of the fully ambidextrous Echelon platform with a performance-focused collection of features. Built around the same robust Central Operating Group® and Variable Interface System®, the Echelon Pro pairs a LightForged™ frame featuring aggressive Badlands texture with an integrally compensated slide assembly finished in Springfield Grey Cerakote®. A machined steel flared magwell, stainless steel guide rod, tritium front sight with an orange luminescent ring, and three included extended magazines round out the package.

The Echelon Pro’s LightForged Grip Texture uses precision lasers to sculpt and reform the surface of the grip module, creating a highly defined texture reminiscent of custom stippling with greater consistency and control. The process allows precise shaping of texture geometry and placement across the grip for a refined, repeatable surface with excellent traction and a premium feel. The Echelon Pro debuts this technology with the Badlands pattern, an aggressive “cracked-earth” texture engineered for confident grip and control.

The 4.0C compact model comes with three 18-round extended magazines, while the hybrid-sized 4.0FC (with a 4″ barrel and compact slide paired with a full-size grip module) and the 4.5F full-size each come with three 20-round extended magazines. The flared magwell is removable to allow the use of flush-fit magazines.

Like all Echelon pistols, the modular Echelon Pro Comp pistols’ serialized Central Operating Group allows for easily swapping out grip modules of differing colors and sizes. In addition, the Variable Interface System allows for the direct mounting of today’s most popular optics to the slide. All three variants feature an MSRP of $899.

“At its launch, the Echelon quickly established itself as a premier 9mm duty pistol with cutting-edge performance and a highly modular design,” said Steve Kramer, Vice President of Marketing for Springfield Armory. “The new Echelon Pro takes that solid foundation and adds a wide range of performance-oriented enhancements to further expand this platform’s already impressive capabilities.”

• Echelon® Pro 4.0C Comp 9mm | ECP9409BY-COMP | 706397008758 | MSRP: $899
• Echelon® Pro 4.0FC Comp 9mm | ECP9409BYFC-COMP | 706397008789 | MSRP: $899
• Echelon® Pro 4.5F Comp 9mm | ECP9459BY-COMP | 706397005498 | MSRP: $899 Read more

Firearms

ATF Releases Guidance in Response to NFA Injunction – Will Not Enforce Registration

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The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) today released guidance for dealers and consumers in response to the landmark National Firearms Act (NFA) injunction granted in Jensen v. ATF, a Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) supported case.

The documents released today provide guidance for both licensed firearms dealers as well as those wishing to purchase, transfer or make a previously regulated NFA firearm. The guidance states that the ATF will cease enforcement on Oct. 9 “…of NFA provisions as applied only to short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, silencers, and ‘any other weapon[s].'” It further states the “…nonenforcement only extends to firearms on which Congress eliminated the making and transfer taxes.”

On Aug. 5, a judge for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas ruled that the remaining registration scheme for short-barreled rifles and suppressors in the National Firearms Act (NFA) is unconstitutional. The injunction went into effect on Aug. 13 after the government did not seek to extend the stay of the ruling by the deadline set by the judge. Since that time, SAF and others requested guidance from the ATF to ensure compliance for both retailers and consumers, and SAF created a FAQ page to ensure the most accurate information was available.

“In each of our three cases challenging the NFA, the argument remains the same – when the tax on silencers and short-barreled rifles was eliminated in the One Big Beautiful Bill, Congress’ taxing authority was stripped with it,” said SAF Executive Director Adam Kraut. “The registration scheme for these arms, however, remained. SAF has challenged that remaining registration requirement as citizens shouldn’t be subject to federal gun registration for proving they paid a tax that doesn’t exist. While the guidance released today alleviates some questions in relation to the logistical application of the Jensen injunction, by its very nature purely as ‘guidance’ it cannot, and does not, provide a permanent fix for many remaining elements of the NFA. For that reason, our other two NFA cases – Brown v. ATF and Roberts v. ATF – will continue, so citizens can finally be relieved of this unconstitutional infringement on their Second Amendment rights.” Read more

Gun Control
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